According to tiktok, I heard that this was the first Chinese restaurant that ever opened in San Francisco, but now, I am not too sure (someone please fact check me because you can't believe everything on tiktok). That's what peaked my interest about this place and it did not disappoint at all. I appreciate the visual history behind this place. Upon entering the restaurant, it's entrance is located behind the actual building itself, adjacent to the park/school. Inside is a little tiny and dingy, but perfect in my eyes. The staff here works extremely hard to make sure all the customers are well taken care of. The waitress was so nice and very attentive. We ordered my favorites: salt & pepper spareribs, har gao, fried shrimp balls, xiao long bao, and spicy wontons. The beef fried rice was an added item for the day and that was really good! All the flavors were excellent! Initially the portions look fairly small, but we still ended up taking food home!

Tucked away in a quiet Chinatown alley, Hang Ah Tea Room is a true hidden gem that locals should rediscover. As the oldest dim sum restaurant in the U.S., it's easy to assume it's a tourist trap, but this century-old spot offers a wonderful experience for both tourists and locals alike. Finding Hang Ah is half the fun--just follow the signs along Pagoda Place, and you'll spot the giant arrow pointing to the entrance. Once inside, the casual, homey vibe welcomes you. The kitschy decor, featuring red vinyl chairs and Chinatown memorabilia, adds to the charm. Despite its historical status, Hang Ah feels more like a neighborhood spot than a polished, high-end restaurant. The handmade dim sum is fantastic. The dumplings, from the shrimp-filled har gao to the unique coriander dumplings, are fresh and delicious. The steamed char siu bao, made from a "secret" recipe, was an excellent with its tender, house-made BBQ pork filling. With its crispy exterior and rich, savory flavors the XO sauce pan-fried turnip cake, was also good. The deep-fried wontons, with their delicate, crispy skin, were an unexpected treat. While Hang Ah stays true to tradition, it also innovates. The menu offers a variety of options, including Northern-style dumplings and even curry potstickers. For an authentic dim sum experience that balances history, hospitality and innovation, Hang Ah Tea Room is a must-visit. Whether you're a visitor or a long-time San Franciscan, this charming spot will certainly win you over.

Delicious HK street food, service is good. There were not many people here on the weekday, so it was perfect. Plenty of seatings.

We walked in and it was pretty dead but the service was pretty fast. We got the beijing beef and I really enjoyed it. We came in for a quick lunch so we didn't get much. We got combo B and the scallion pancake was yummy the soup dumplings were pretty small but tasty the potstickers were huge but they were ok taste wise. Pretty nice for a quick lunch and the history behind it makes it special.

Like people have said, not necessarily the best tasting restaurant for dim sum, but it is nice to support a small business that's been around and get to say you're been to the first one in the US since the 1920s. :) It was empty when we went in midday Thursday. We got the fried stuff eggplant, curry fishballs and lotus wrapsticky rice. The eggplant had fried shrimp inside and was the favorite. The fishballs tasted different than the ones I usually eat (it tasted artificial :/), and the curry was spicier than expected.

Being from Phoenix I'm no dim sum expert but I've had it all over the place and this was the best I've had. My wife and I came in around 10p after a Giants game and this place sure seemed LEGIT. It is open late and was about half full. We were the only white folks in there. Communication is a little challenging so if you aren't familiar, I'd suggest making a list of what you want before you come in as the huge selection of options is a little daunting (as usual for dim sum). It was DELICIOUS.

I was wandering around looking for a dim sum place. I saw the sign saying this is America's oldest dim sum house, so I had to try it. The food was quite good, and the service was prompt. The menu is short and was missing some dim sum staples, but what they had was great. The prices were reasonable. The ambiance reflects the age of the place. I'd certainly go here again.